Offical NHL Discussion Thread

[exsanguinator]

I think the Oilers will do a lot better than the Jets.

[BestWayKilla]

I think the Oilers will do a lot better than the Jets.

Well, it's one or the other that will likely finish in the basement. I think both will be last in their conference this year.

[KjSwantko]

I think the Oilers will do a lot better than the Jets.

Exactly what I was going to say and I think Edmonton will likely be better than Ottawa too. I'd almost bet money the Jets will be 30th in the league.

[Heisenberg]

unfortunately ex, I think the Leafs are going to be better than you guys this year.

I disagree. Oilers will be the worst Canadian team, followed closely by the Jets, followed by Ottawa, followed by Toronto, followed by Calgary, followed by Montreal, followed by Vancouver. Toronto does not have the offense, or the team in general. Burke has continually ignored the draft as they have done for the past 25 years of so, continually drafting these guys destined to be third-liners, all character players, not seeing the only way the Leafs will get better is by drafting talent. He really needs to go, because it's going to stay the same for years until they get it fight at the draft. If you wanna see what i'm talking about, just watch this very funny video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ob1K6lseEQg

Get out of here. Burke is the greatest thing we have on the Leafs.

Leafs have a great team as well and will easily be second best if not best Canadian team. To start off the year against Canadiens the leafs were already a a favourite to win by all gambling sites.

You dont need to use draft picks to rebuild a team, thats only a must for small teams that can't attract big names to the city. Leafs have great young guys as well, on the Marlies (ahl team)we playing with Colbourne ( im sure you miss him) and Jake Gardiner.

Oh plus we have Luke Scheen which is one of the best young dmen in the league right now. In fact I think the oldest player on our roster is only 30, so the leafs have a great young team for once and its alllll thanks to Brian Burke. The same guy who made insane trade and drafted sedins back to back for Canucks and hes the same guy that mad Anaheim a great Stanly cup team.

Leafs are going to have a good year and its about fucking time. I can honestly say I haven't been this excited about a Leaf season in a long time. To finally be rid of old veterans just feels great.

[BestWayKilla]

unfortunately ex, I think the Leafs are going to be better than you guys this year.

I disagree. Oilers will be the worst Canadian team, followed closely by the Jets, followed by Ottawa, followed by Toronto, followed by Calgary, followed by Montreal, followed by Vancouver. Toronto does not have the offense, or the team in general. Burke has continually ignored the draft as they have done for the past 25 years of so, continually drafting these guys destined to be third-liners, all character players, not seeing the only way the Leafs will get better is by drafting talent. He really needs to go, because it's going to stay the same for years until they get it fight at the draft. If you wanna see what i'm talking about, just watch this very funny video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ob1K6lseEQg

Get out of here. Burke is the greatest thing we have on the Leafs.

Leafs have a great team as well and will easily be second best if not best Canadian team. To start off the year against Canadiens the leafs were already a a favourite to win by all gambling sites.

You dont need to use draft picks to rebuild a team, thats only a must for small teams that can't attract big names to the city. Leafs have great young guys as well, on the Marlies (ahl team)we playing with Colbourne ( im sure you miss him) and Jake Gardiner.

Oh plus we have Luke Scheen which is one of the best young dmen in the league right now. In fact I think the oldest player on our roster is only 30, so the leafs have a great young team for once and its alllll thanks to Brian Burke. The same guy who made insane trade and drafted sedins back to back for Canucks and hes the same guy that mad Anaheim a great Stanly cup team.

Leafs are going to have a good year and its about fucking time. I can honestly say I haven't been this excited about a Leaf season in a long time. To finally be rid of old veterans just feels great.

Who is going to score? Kessel? You really think he'll be this good when 2012 rolls around? The answer is no. And you can keep Colborne, Seguin is for real this year, I bet you're missing him. I just can't see the reason for the optimism, the team still doesn't have a proven #1 goalie, or a proven 1st line center, or a really good stud blueliner, who actually can play defense, unlike Dion. I don't wanna rain on your parade it seems the media up there always starts planning when you guys have a good start, but I just don't see it. And here I was thinking most Leaf fans had the same cynical and depressed outlook as DGB, one of my favorite hockey blogs by the way. The Leafs have really just fallen down hard since the lockout. I mean, they haven't made the playoffs since then. I just don't see them doing better than another 4th place finish in the division and as high as 10th in the conference.

[Heisenberg]

I think you're not looking into the Leafs enough but it was always because they're old and slow which since all star break last year we really do have a younger team. Not going to like we could use another top C but Burke did go out and try to get Ricahrds and when he took the money in New York he got us Tim Connolly and David Steckel. Our scoring should be there as last year Grabovski-Kulemin-Macarthur alll had over 50 points plus Kessel and lopul wil get to play for much longer this season and Connolly in between them should be nice addition. That and our third and fourth line will shut you down via brute force in most cases.

Reimer fished the year off with young guys and went 20-10 which is pretty damn good and our team is very similar to that with a few great additions. I still personally think Gustaffsson is the better goalie and with his heart problem all fixed for now would love to see him get play time once Reimer shine starts to fade (if it does, hes proving many people otherwise). We always had shitty face offs and we now have Steckel (league leader last year and will great help our pp and pk. Our defense is stacked,Luke Schenn, Phaneuf, John Michael liles, Franson, Gunarssoon, and Komisarek.

I still think we could still get better, but Leafs are without a doubt in my mind are a playoff team and I can't wait for few weeks to see the outcome. Pretty much where the team was weak last year and other years, Burke went out and address and tried to fix.

[KjSwantko]

Who is going to score? Kessel? You really think he'll be this good when 2012 rolls around? The answer is no. And you can keep Colborne, Seguin is for real this year, I bet you're missing him. I just can't see the reason for the optimism, the team still doesn't have a proven #1 goalie, or a proven 1st line center, or a really good stud blueliner, who actually can play defense, unlike Dion. I don't wanna rain on your parade it seems the media up there always starts planning when you guys have a good start, but I just don't see it. And here I was thinking most Leaf fans had the same cynical and depressed outlook as DGB, one of my favorite hockey blogs by the way. The Leafs have really just fallen down hard since the lockout. I mean, they haven't made the playoffs since then. I just don't see them doing better than another 4th place finish in the division and as high as 10th in the conference.

I was reading your post right as Kessel got another snipe. Idk but he sure is looking pretty damn good right now.

I've got to agree that Leafs will be much improved this year and maybe even make playoffs. Liles is one of the most under-rated defesemen in the league, Connolly is quite good if he stays healthy, Steckl will help them win critical faceoffs, and Reimer who is only 23 is already solid and may even blossom into a great goaltender. Not to mention Kessel is only 24 too and will only get better. Leafs if nothing else will at least have a legitimate shot at playoffs this year.

[BestWayKilla]

I think the best they can do is to make the playoffs, they do look better, but I still don't see them being that much better. I don't see their offense holding up, I don't see their defense doing them any favors, and I can't really tell if Reimer will be the guy they've been looking for. He could be, and that'd definitely be a monkey off their backs. Kessel won't be in the scoring race when 2012 rolls around, mark my words. He's good for 30, but he doesn't have the supporting cast and I just don't think he can carry the offense. I think in a few years the Leafs will start being a regular playoff team again, but I don't see a lot of success with them right now. But then again, my team rules the division, so I could just be looking at it wrong.

By the way, anyone on here know of any good hockey blogs? I go on Days of Y'Orr and DGB, and both of those are great. I've been looking to read some other fan's opinions.

[exsanguinator]

I just read the blogs from sbnation right now and occasionally I get out to other flames blogs but that's about it.

[Heisenberg]

I just read the blogs from sbnation right now and occasionally I get out to other flames blogs but that's about it.

I pretty much rely on sbnation. I tend to do a lot of gambling so I find the fact that it covers all sports and each team very helpful and quick.

I do enjoy radio blogs about Leafs and Blue Jays on the am stations after games or at noon, usually where I get most info from when it comes to Toronto teams.

[BestWayKilla]

I don't think I'm wrong in saying that was the worst reffed game I've ever seen. No offense to Canes fans on here, but Gleason's a bitch and the refs won that game for them. Just pure horseshit.

[Heisenberg]

BestWayKilla, its on tonight with Leafs vs Bruins. Leafs def starting strong at 4-0-1 and I can only imagine it will be the Monster (Gustaffsson) tonight oin net against the Bruins.

Sig Bet? 1 week? lol

[BestWayKilla]

Yeah, week sounds good. I really expect my B's to come out breathing fire tonight, they should be nice and pissed after that travesty the other night. Have at you, and good luck!

[Heisenberg]

Yeah, week sounds good. I really expect my B's to come out breathing fire tonight, they should be nice and pissed after that travesty the other night. Have at you, and good luck!

Awesome, pumped for the game tonight. Goodluck

[KjSwantko]

Hopefully the B's have a couple fire extinguishers ready for Kessel